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Gift for the Readers
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Yu-Gi-Oh › General
Rating:
Adult +
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
Yu-Gi-Oh › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
6
Views:
2,462
Reviews:
15
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own YuGiOh!, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Solar Eclipse
Solar Eclipse
hato_chiisai
Disclaimer: I don’t own a damn thing, and everyone knows that so these stupid disclaimers are a stupid waste of time.
Slight, yaoi. No sex (sorry ^_^) just kissing
********************
The sun shone on the tan back, as the muscles rolled under the smooth skin. The small lithe body leapt up into the air, and spiked the volley ball over the net. He fell back to earth, bare feet sinking slightly in the sand. The volley ball returned to his side, and his blonde teammate jumped back, barely tapping it towards the boy. The boy leapt forwards, and hit it up, landing chest first in the sand. The ball went over the net, and crimson eyes watched the ball fall to the sand, among the other team, who all started to argue over whose ball it was. YamiYugi stood, brushing sand off of his bare sweaty chest, and leather clad legs. He turned, and high fived Joey, then Otogi, and winked at Malik, the only boy on their team who was still wearing a shirt. He looked over to the other side of the court, at Yugi, Marik, Tristan and Seto, who were still arguing. He looked over to the sidelines, where Mokuba was pouting.
“C’mon, Seto! I wanna play!” Mokuba a called. Yami sighed, as Otogi stole the volley ball from the other team’s side, and tossed it to Malik, to serve. Then, he looked over at the solitary figure, sitting under a tree.
“Mokuba! I need a break. Come play for me!” Yami called, and grinned, when Mokuba cheered, and kicked off his shoes, running onto the sand. Yami left the court, and picked up his shirt, wiping sweat from his face. He moved over to the tree, and figure, hiding its face in its knees. He sat next to the small figure.
“Ryou?” He asked, softly. The small boy looked up at YamiYugi with dark brown eyes, through tousled silver hair, that fell down to his mid back.
“Oh. Hello, Yami.” Ryou said, quietly.
“What’s wrong?” Yami asked.
“……. Nothing.”
“You wanna play?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Hai. I don’t play sports.” Ryou said, looking away. Yami noticed that Ryou was sweating.
“Ryou, it’s hot. Why the hell are you wearing long sleeves?”
“I don’t have many short sleeves.”
“Don’t give me that. You have plenty, Ryou. Why aren’t you wearing them?”
“Didn’t feel like it.”
“You’re sweating.”
“It’s hot.”
“Take off your shirt.”
“No.”
“Roll up your sleeves.”
“Iie.”
“Ryou, you’re boiling. C’mon.”
“No. I’m fine.” Ryou mumbled, and twitched his sleeves lower on his wrists. Yami frowned.
“Ryou, has Bakura been hurting you again?” Yami asked, gently. Ryou’s body stiffened, and he swallowed, looking away.
“N-noo…” Ryou stammered.
“Ryou?”
“Hai?”
“You’re a lousy liar.” Yami said. Ryou looked away. Yami took the opportunity to shove Ryou flat on his back. Ryou yelped , as Yami Yugi shifted, so he was sitting on Ryou’s hips, and pinned the boy’s hand down with his knees. The others on the volley ball court came running over to see why Yami was seemingly molesting Ryou. Yami pulled Ryou’s shirt up to his collar bone, and stared at his chest and stomach. It was covered with fading bruises.
“Dammit…” Marik muttered, from behind him. “He’s doing it again.”
“It, it’s okay…” Ryou whimpered. “He was drunk. He didn’t mean to.” Yami got off of Ryou, who sat up, and pulled his shirt down again.
“It doesn’t matter.” Yami snarled. “Is this why you’ve been jumpy all week?”
“I-iie. I’ve been jumpy because, well, nothing….” Ryou mumbled.
“Because why, Ryou?” Marik asked, sitting down on Ryou’s other side, and waving the others back to the volley ball court.
“Because, Bakura’s been jumpy. He keeps freaking out, and yelling at me, and then almost hits me, but then, he stops, and mutters, and leaves me alone. He’s been doing it all week. It scares me.”
“That doesn’t sound like Bakura.” Yami said, frowning, looking at Marik.
“He keeps saying ‘it’s almost here. I’ll never be able to hide it from him. It’ll all be over soon.’ He says weird things like that.” Ryou said, shrugging.
“Almost here?” Marik asked, baffled. “What’s almost here?”
“I don’t know.” Ryou whispered. Yami frowned in thought.
“What would make Bakura nervous? His birthday? Is it the day Ryou got the Ring, maybe? The day I sealed him in the Ring?” Marik frowned, and confirmed that none of these were correct.
“He says it’s tomorrow. Whatever it is.” Ryou said. “At sunset.”
“Sunset?” Marik asked.
“Sunset?” Yami repeated, just as confused. Suddenly, Yami went pale, and comprehension dawned on his face. “Oh, sweet Isis, mother of Horus….” He whispered. Marik looked at Yami, confused. “Tomorrow. It really is tomorrow. How could we have missed it?”
“What are you talking about?” Marik asked, bewildered.
“Tomorrow is the day. You know, the day…..” Marik blinked.
“Tomorrow is the full solar eclipse.” Ryou said. Marik stiffened. His eyes widened in alarm, and turned to Yami.
“You don’t mean, that day that….”
“Yes.”
“When our hikari’s can….”
“Yes.”
“Oh, holy Ra…. Oh, shit.”
“Uh, what’s going on?” Ryou asked.
“Have you ever told Malik about it?” Yami asked.
“Yes. Yugi?”
“Hai.”
“Bakura must not have told Ryou. He’s scared that Ryou will….”
“Yes. He’s afraid.”
“Hello!?” Ryou shouted. “Bakura hasn’t told me what? What’s he scared of?” Yami and Marik looked at Ryou, then each other.
“Ryou…” Yami sighed. “On the full solar eclipse, a hikari can banish their yami from their life. Forever.” Ryou stared.
“Banish…”
“The decision is made when the sun is fully darkened. Shadi will come, and you will choose the fate of your yami. You can rid yourself of Bakura and the Ring, for the rest of your life.”
“I can banish Bakura…?”
“Yes.”
“After all he’s done to me…..” Ryou murmured.
“Yes. It’s no wonder he’s worried.” Marik muttered. “Ryou can get rid of him. He could be locked away for a matter of minutes, or millennia before he gets a new hikari.”
“I can’t believe it’s tomorrow.” Yami breathed. “We should tell Yugi and Malik.” The two stood up, and went over to the volleyball court. Ryou slipped away, while no one was looking, and walked home, in the golden light of the sunset.
His house was dark and empty when he got there. Bakura was pacing in his soul room, as he had been all day. Ryou sighed, and made dinner for himself, and his yami. He closed his eyes.
/Bakura?/ He called through their link. /Bakura?/
//Nan desu ka, hikari?// the answer came. Bakura sounded on edge.
/Dinner is ready. Are you hungry?/
//Iie. I’m not.// Bakura said. After a pause, he added on an awkward, //Thanks, though.// Ryou blinked, but shrugged. He had hoped for his yami’s company, but he ate in solitary silence, thinking of what tomorrow may bring.
***********
“What do I do?” Bakura muttered to himself. “I can’t keep it from him. He’ll find out tomorrow. That stupid eclipse. I could be sealed away for good. There’s no way Ryou would keep me. Ra… I may as well face it. It’s all over tomorrow. Maybe I should have eaten. At least—“ a lump in his throat cut off his words, and he rubbed at his eyes, that were starting to water. “At least I could have spent a little more time with, with my Hikari. With Ryou. My Ryou…” He sighed, and sat down on his bed. He concentrated, and looked through his hikari’s eyes. He was in the bathroom, staring at the mirror, thoughtfully. His deep brown eyes looked worried, and confused. Bakura listened in on Ryou’s thoughts.
/What should I do? Do I really want to do this? I wish I had known sooner. I wish I had more time to think about this. What’s he thinking?/ Bakura suddenly felt Ryou reaching out to him. Bakura sighed, and concentrated. Ryou jumped, and gasped, when his reflection in the mirror turned into Bakura.
“B-bakura!” He gasped.
“I’m thinking about the same thing you are.” Bakura said, softly. “Tomorrow. I’m guessing the Pharaoh told you?”
“H-hai…”
“Well then. I guess you’ll get what you’ve wanted. You’ll finally be rid of me.” Bakura said, and Ryou’s reflection returned, as Bakura vanished.
“Yeah.” Ryou said. “I guess I will.” Both spent a restless night, thinking about the other.
************
Late the next afternoon, Yugi and Malik appeared on Ryou’s front doorstep.
“Oh. Hi.” Ryou said, and let them in. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, we figured you’d need our support.” Yugi said.
“Yeah. I mean, are you getting rid of Bakura?” Malik asked. Ryou looked down, and followed Malik and Yugi out to his back yard, so they could see the eclipse.
“Yes.” Ryou said, quietly. “Yes I am.”
“You don’t sound too sure.” Malik said.
“I, I’m not, Malik. I’m, I, I wish I had more time. To think. To talk to him. But he didn’t want to talk. I think he’s accepted that I’ve made my decision. But I haven’t. He’s not even hoping.” They sat in silence. The eclipse began. Blackish, purplish mist swirled around the backyard, and Shadi rose from the ground. He stood, and stepped forwards, lifting the Millennium Ahnk from his neck. He held it up to the Millennium Puzzle, and twisted is. Glowing red mist poured from the Puzzle, and Yami Yugi took form, on his knees at Yugi’s feet, completely lacking in the clothes department. His eyes remained focused on the hem of Shadi’s long robes. Yugi had never seen his darker half looking so humble, and vulnerable.
Shadi held the Ahnk up to Malik’s Millennium Rod, and turned it. Marik solidified from a light purple cloud, also nude, kneeling at his hikari’s feet, his eyes trained downwards. He too, looked more vulnerable than Malik had ever seen the usually half psychotic yami. Shadi lifted the Ahnk to the Millennium Ring, and twisted. A bright blue mist enveloped the Ring, and seemed to cling to it. All present could feel Bakura clawing, trying to stay in his soul room, desperately trying to resist what was dragging him forth. But he fought in vain, and was soon naked, on his knees before his light, and the judgment of Shadi. Ryou stared, shocked. Bakura huddled as small as he could, and was trembling. Shadi paid no mind.
“Pharaoh Yugioh.” Shadi spoke, firmly. Yami raised his eyes. “You now stand to be judged, by your hikari, to remain by his side, or to be taken from him. Have you any words before judgment is passed?” Yami swallowed, eyeing the Millennium Scales in Shadi’s hand.
“There is nothing I have to say to my aibou, that has not been said, already.” He replied, softly. Shadi looked up at Yugi, and held out the Scales.
“Then may judgment fall upon you. Yugi Mouto.” Yugi swallowed. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?” Yugi cleared his throat.
“I would not trade my yami for anything. I love him. I want to keep him for ever.” Yugi said, softly, but firmly. Shadi looked at the Scales. They tipped. Yugi spoke the truth.
“So be it.” Shadi said, and Yami smiled, but returned his eyes to the ground, to await the end of the eclipse, at the feet of his lover.
“Assassin, Marik Ishtar.” Shadi said, standing before the tan yami, who raised his eyes. “You now stand to be judged, by your hikari, to remain by his side, or to be taken from him. Have you any words before judgment is passed?”
“Only that I love him. No matter what he may choose for me.” Marik said. The Scales tipped. Marik spoke the truth.
“May judgment fall upon you. Malik Ishtar.” Malik straightened, and stared Shadi in the eyes. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?”
“Uh, can I ask a question first?”
“Speak.”
“Is there a reason you’re repeating yourself and sounding like you’re performing a wedding ceremony?” Yugi and Ryou stared at Malik, Yami blinked, and Marik groaned. “Okay, okay, sorry.” Malik muttered. “I choose to keep him.”
“So be it.” Shadi said, eyeing Malik, slightly annoyed. Marik sighed in relief, when Shadi moved away. Malik and Yugi looked at Ryou, and Marik and Yami snuck glances at the trembling Bakura.
“Tomb Robber Bakura.” Shadi snarled the name. Bakura flinched. “You now stand to be judged, by your hikari, to remain by his side, or to be taken from him. Have you any words before judgment is passed?” Ryou looked down at Bakura, a hopeful expression on his face. Bakura seemed to be huddling lower, as if trying to sink into the ground. Yami and Marik felt twinges of pity for the albino darkness.
“…” Bakura mumbled.
“Speak up!” Shadi snapped.
“No.” Bakura whispered. “I have nothing to say. Just get on with it all ready.” Ryou’s face fell, and his eyes closed.
“Very well. May judgment fall upon you. Ryou Bakura.” Ryou swallowed, and opened his eyes, but kept his gaze on Bakura, refusing to look up at the keeper of the Ahnk and Scales. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?” Ryou saw Bakura’s head dip lower, and shoulders sag in defeat. Ryou tried to speak. Tried to tell Shadi to take Bakura away. But he couldn’t get it out. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “What is your choice?!” Shadi repeated. The sun was completely dark now.
“I, I, I don’t know…” Ryou managed to gasp. He heard Bakura suck in his breath.
“Make your choice.” Shadi commanded.
“I don’t know…” Ryou whimpered, brokenly.
“Wait!” Bakura gasped, suddenly. “Please. I, I would speak. I do have something to say.”
“You have had your chance.” Shadi snapped.
“Please.” Ryou said. “Please let him.” Shadi eyed Ryou, then Bakura.
“Very well. But remember that the Scales will hear your words. And remember that time grows short.” A small sliver of the sun had reappeared. Bakura started to turn to face Ryou. “You have not been given permission to move!” Shadi snapped. Bakura jumped, and huddled on his knees again, shaking more violently than before.
“Ryou. I, I’m sorry. About everything. I don’t know how to tell you just how sorry I am. Words cannot express it. Nor can they express how I feel.” Bakura paused, and gulped. Yami and Marik stared, as a tear escaped Bakura’s eye, and ran down his face. “I was afraid, Ryou. I was afraid to tell you how I feel. And banish me if you will, but I cannot go without telling you this. I, I love you. I love you Ryou. I love you with every thing that I have. My heart, my soul, my mind, my body…. Ra, I’ve hurt you for so long. I don’t know why I did, I still don’t. but I wish you never got the Ring. You never deserved all I’ve put you through. And I’m so sorry. I would fix it if I could, but I can’t. I can’t change the past, no matter how much I wish I could. Now, all I ask is for your forgiveness. Banish me if you will, but at least, try to forgive me for all I’ve done. You’re my other half. The half of me that I love. I hate myself for what I did to you. I’m sorry, I, I….” His voice trailed off. “I love you.” He whispered. “I love you so much, it hurts!”
“Are you quite finished?” Shadi asked in a steely voice. Bakura swallowed, and nodded. Shadi raised the Scales, and all eyes but Bakura’s fixed upon them. They watched Bakura’s words weighed with his soul. The scale tipped back and forth. They finally stopped. Ryou swallowed.
“Your words have been judged against your soul. They tip even. You speak the truth.” Ryou stared down at Bakura.
“Ryou Bakura.” Shadi said. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?” Ryou swallowed, and stared at his yami. Malik, Yugi, Yami, Marik and Bakura hold their breathes.
“Bakura….” Ryou said, softly, tears streaming down his face. “I love you too.” He fell to his knees, and wrapped his arms around his yami. “I forgive you. I love you.” He whispered. Bakura remained still, waiting for Ryou to tell Shadi his choice. Ryou looked up at the Keeper of the Ahnk and Scales. “Go. And leave him. I love him. I’m keeping him.” Shadi nodded.
“So be it.” He said, and vanished into the mist. The mist evaporated, and the sun was freed from the grips of the shadows that had engulfed it. Yugi and Malik fell to their knees next to their yamis, and embraced them. But Bakura still didn’t move. Marik and Yami clothed themselves with their minds, and they all turned to Ryou who was shaking Bakura’s shoulders, trying to get him to respond.
“Ryou.” Bakura said, softly. “Why? Why did you spare me. I thought you would….”
“I was going to.” Ryou said. “But I never knew that you…..” Ryou shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared.” Bakura answered, truthfully. Ryou smiled slightly, and put his hands on Bakura’s face, lifting it up to face him. Bakura studied Ryou’s eyes. Ryou smiled, and closed his eyes, then pressed his lips to Bakura’s.
/I love you Bakura./
//I love you too, Ryou. Thank you.//
/For what?/
//For the second chance.//
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!!
Hello all! First off, I want to apologize for the lack of updates with ‘Burning Sea’ and this week’s missing chapter of ‘Ahmose Inarus’. It’s that time of the semester, folks, final exams, research papers, and all that shit. I’m busy as hell and the next chapter of BS has yet to be written and AI is not quite complete. Plus, I have noticed that not many have been reading ‘Ahmose Inarus’. That’s not a problem for me, I knew it would not attract many readers considering that it is focused on an original character, and those are not exactly popular in fanfics. I know… I tend to avoid fics with too many OC’s or too much focus on an OC. There. I admit it. I’m a hypocrite. ^_^()
However, I did get the opinion of many of my readers, and many said they wanted to see the fic ‘Ahmose Inarus’. That is why I posted it. However, I hope to post the sequel to ‘Koibito Yami’ in the undefined future, called ‘Millennium Balance’. I think it is only fair to warn you that you may be a bit lost in that fic unless you read the three prequels; ‘Koibito Yami’, ‘Ahmose Inarus’ and the sequel to AI, ‘Mikado Maho.’ Just letting you know and giving you a heads up. And for those of you who ARE reading AI and reviewing, (though there IS a serious lack of reviews… actually I’ve notied a recent decline in reviews in general)glad you’re enjoying it.
Anyway, look for updates on Ahmose Inarus and Burning Sea after Christmas break. Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll have anything to post up on those between now and when I leave the campus and go home where I will have no internet access… for a month. So until then, read and enjoy what I’ve already got up, and REVIEW DAMMIT!!! Especially this one! What, just because there's no sex I get no reiews?!?! ;_; THE AUTHOR NEEDS REVIEWS!!! FEED ME! FEEEEED MEEEE!!!!
Yyyyeah…. >.>
Merry Christmas!!!! ^_^
hato_chiisai
Disclaimer: I don’t own a damn thing, and everyone knows that so these stupid disclaimers are a stupid waste of time.
Slight, yaoi. No sex (sorry ^_^) just kissing
********************
The sun shone on the tan back, as the muscles rolled under the smooth skin. The small lithe body leapt up into the air, and spiked the volley ball over the net. He fell back to earth, bare feet sinking slightly in the sand. The volley ball returned to his side, and his blonde teammate jumped back, barely tapping it towards the boy. The boy leapt forwards, and hit it up, landing chest first in the sand. The ball went over the net, and crimson eyes watched the ball fall to the sand, among the other team, who all started to argue over whose ball it was. YamiYugi stood, brushing sand off of his bare sweaty chest, and leather clad legs. He turned, and high fived Joey, then Otogi, and winked at Malik, the only boy on their team who was still wearing a shirt. He looked over to the other side of the court, at Yugi, Marik, Tristan and Seto, who were still arguing. He looked over to the sidelines, where Mokuba was pouting.
“C’mon, Seto! I wanna play!” Mokuba a called. Yami sighed, as Otogi stole the volley ball from the other team’s side, and tossed it to Malik, to serve. Then, he looked over at the solitary figure, sitting under a tree.
“Mokuba! I need a break. Come play for me!” Yami called, and grinned, when Mokuba cheered, and kicked off his shoes, running onto the sand. Yami left the court, and picked up his shirt, wiping sweat from his face. He moved over to the tree, and figure, hiding its face in its knees. He sat next to the small figure.
“Ryou?” He asked, softly. The small boy looked up at YamiYugi with dark brown eyes, through tousled silver hair, that fell down to his mid back.
“Oh. Hello, Yami.” Ryou said, quietly.
“What’s wrong?” Yami asked.
“……. Nothing.”
“You wanna play?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Hai. I don’t play sports.” Ryou said, looking away. Yami noticed that Ryou was sweating.
“Ryou, it’s hot. Why the hell are you wearing long sleeves?”
“I don’t have many short sleeves.”
“Don’t give me that. You have plenty, Ryou. Why aren’t you wearing them?”
“Didn’t feel like it.”
“You’re sweating.”
“It’s hot.”
“Take off your shirt.”
“No.”
“Roll up your sleeves.”
“Iie.”
“Ryou, you’re boiling. C’mon.”
“No. I’m fine.” Ryou mumbled, and twitched his sleeves lower on his wrists. Yami frowned.
“Ryou, has Bakura been hurting you again?” Yami asked, gently. Ryou’s body stiffened, and he swallowed, looking away.
“N-noo…” Ryou stammered.
“Ryou?”
“Hai?”
“You’re a lousy liar.” Yami said. Ryou looked away. Yami took the opportunity to shove Ryou flat on his back. Ryou yelped , as Yami Yugi shifted, so he was sitting on Ryou’s hips, and pinned the boy’s hand down with his knees. The others on the volley ball court came running over to see why Yami was seemingly molesting Ryou. Yami pulled Ryou’s shirt up to his collar bone, and stared at his chest and stomach. It was covered with fading bruises.
“Dammit…” Marik muttered, from behind him. “He’s doing it again.”
“It, it’s okay…” Ryou whimpered. “He was drunk. He didn’t mean to.” Yami got off of Ryou, who sat up, and pulled his shirt down again.
“It doesn’t matter.” Yami snarled. “Is this why you’ve been jumpy all week?”
“I-iie. I’ve been jumpy because, well, nothing….” Ryou mumbled.
“Because why, Ryou?” Marik asked, sitting down on Ryou’s other side, and waving the others back to the volley ball court.
“Because, Bakura’s been jumpy. He keeps freaking out, and yelling at me, and then almost hits me, but then, he stops, and mutters, and leaves me alone. He’s been doing it all week. It scares me.”
“That doesn’t sound like Bakura.” Yami said, frowning, looking at Marik.
“He keeps saying ‘it’s almost here. I’ll never be able to hide it from him. It’ll all be over soon.’ He says weird things like that.” Ryou said, shrugging.
“Almost here?” Marik asked, baffled. “What’s almost here?”
“I don’t know.” Ryou whispered. Yami frowned in thought.
“What would make Bakura nervous? His birthday? Is it the day Ryou got the Ring, maybe? The day I sealed him in the Ring?” Marik frowned, and confirmed that none of these were correct.
“He says it’s tomorrow. Whatever it is.” Ryou said. “At sunset.”
“Sunset?” Marik asked.
“Sunset?” Yami repeated, just as confused. Suddenly, Yami went pale, and comprehension dawned on his face. “Oh, sweet Isis, mother of Horus….” He whispered. Marik looked at Yami, confused. “Tomorrow. It really is tomorrow. How could we have missed it?”
“What are you talking about?” Marik asked, bewildered.
“Tomorrow is the day. You know, the day…..” Marik blinked.
“Tomorrow is the full solar eclipse.” Ryou said. Marik stiffened. His eyes widened in alarm, and turned to Yami.
“You don’t mean, that day that….”
“Yes.”
“When our hikari’s can….”
“Yes.”
“Oh, holy Ra…. Oh, shit.”
“Uh, what’s going on?” Ryou asked.
“Have you ever told Malik about it?” Yami asked.
“Yes. Yugi?”
“Hai.”
“Bakura must not have told Ryou. He’s scared that Ryou will….”
“Yes. He’s afraid.”
“Hello!?” Ryou shouted. “Bakura hasn’t told me what? What’s he scared of?” Yami and Marik looked at Ryou, then each other.
“Ryou…” Yami sighed. “On the full solar eclipse, a hikari can banish their yami from their life. Forever.” Ryou stared.
“Banish…”
“The decision is made when the sun is fully darkened. Shadi will come, and you will choose the fate of your yami. You can rid yourself of Bakura and the Ring, for the rest of your life.”
“I can banish Bakura…?”
“Yes.”
“After all he’s done to me…..” Ryou murmured.
“Yes. It’s no wonder he’s worried.” Marik muttered. “Ryou can get rid of him. He could be locked away for a matter of minutes, or millennia before he gets a new hikari.”
“I can’t believe it’s tomorrow.” Yami breathed. “We should tell Yugi and Malik.” The two stood up, and went over to the volleyball court. Ryou slipped away, while no one was looking, and walked home, in the golden light of the sunset.
His house was dark and empty when he got there. Bakura was pacing in his soul room, as he had been all day. Ryou sighed, and made dinner for himself, and his yami. He closed his eyes.
/Bakura?/ He called through their link. /Bakura?/
//Nan desu ka, hikari?// the answer came. Bakura sounded on edge.
/Dinner is ready. Are you hungry?/
//Iie. I’m not.// Bakura said. After a pause, he added on an awkward, //Thanks, though.// Ryou blinked, but shrugged. He had hoped for his yami’s company, but he ate in solitary silence, thinking of what tomorrow may bring.
***********
“What do I do?” Bakura muttered to himself. “I can’t keep it from him. He’ll find out tomorrow. That stupid eclipse. I could be sealed away for good. There’s no way Ryou would keep me. Ra… I may as well face it. It’s all over tomorrow. Maybe I should have eaten. At least—“ a lump in his throat cut off his words, and he rubbed at his eyes, that were starting to water. “At least I could have spent a little more time with, with my Hikari. With Ryou. My Ryou…” He sighed, and sat down on his bed. He concentrated, and looked through his hikari’s eyes. He was in the bathroom, staring at the mirror, thoughtfully. His deep brown eyes looked worried, and confused. Bakura listened in on Ryou’s thoughts.
/What should I do? Do I really want to do this? I wish I had known sooner. I wish I had more time to think about this. What’s he thinking?/ Bakura suddenly felt Ryou reaching out to him. Bakura sighed, and concentrated. Ryou jumped, and gasped, when his reflection in the mirror turned into Bakura.
“B-bakura!” He gasped.
“I’m thinking about the same thing you are.” Bakura said, softly. “Tomorrow. I’m guessing the Pharaoh told you?”
“H-hai…”
“Well then. I guess you’ll get what you’ve wanted. You’ll finally be rid of me.” Bakura said, and Ryou’s reflection returned, as Bakura vanished.
“Yeah.” Ryou said. “I guess I will.” Both spent a restless night, thinking about the other.
************
Late the next afternoon, Yugi and Malik appeared on Ryou’s front doorstep.
“Oh. Hi.” Ryou said, and let them in. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, we figured you’d need our support.” Yugi said.
“Yeah. I mean, are you getting rid of Bakura?” Malik asked. Ryou looked down, and followed Malik and Yugi out to his back yard, so they could see the eclipse.
“Yes.” Ryou said, quietly. “Yes I am.”
“You don’t sound too sure.” Malik said.
“I, I’m not, Malik. I’m, I, I wish I had more time. To think. To talk to him. But he didn’t want to talk. I think he’s accepted that I’ve made my decision. But I haven’t. He’s not even hoping.” They sat in silence. The eclipse began. Blackish, purplish mist swirled around the backyard, and Shadi rose from the ground. He stood, and stepped forwards, lifting the Millennium Ahnk from his neck. He held it up to the Millennium Puzzle, and twisted is. Glowing red mist poured from the Puzzle, and Yami Yugi took form, on his knees at Yugi’s feet, completely lacking in the clothes department. His eyes remained focused on the hem of Shadi’s long robes. Yugi had never seen his darker half looking so humble, and vulnerable.
Shadi held the Ahnk up to Malik’s Millennium Rod, and turned it. Marik solidified from a light purple cloud, also nude, kneeling at his hikari’s feet, his eyes trained downwards. He too, looked more vulnerable than Malik had ever seen the usually half psychotic yami. Shadi lifted the Ahnk to the Millennium Ring, and twisted. A bright blue mist enveloped the Ring, and seemed to cling to it. All present could feel Bakura clawing, trying to stay in his soul room, desperately trying to resist what was dragging him forth. But he fought in vain, and was soon naked, on his knees before his light, and the judgment of Shadi. Ryou stared, shocked. Bakura huddled as small as he could, and was trembling. Shadi paid no mind.
“Pharaoh Yugioh.” Shadi spoke, firmly. Yami raised his eyes. “You now stand to be judged, by your hikari, to remain by his side, or to be taken from him. Have you any words before judgment is passed?” Yami swallowed, eyeing the Millennium Scales in Shadi’s hand.
“There is nothing I have to say to my aibou, that has not been said, already.” He replied, softly. Shadi looked up at Yugi, and held out the Scales.
“Then may judgment fall upon you. Yugi Mouto.” Yugi swallowed. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?” Yugi cleared his throat.
“I would not trade my yami for anything. I love him. I want to keep him for ever.” Yugi said, softly, but firmly. Shadi looked at the Scales. They tipped. Yugi spoke the truth.
“So be it.” Shadi said, and Yami smiled, but returned his eyes to the ground, to await the end of the eclipse, at the feet of his lover.
“Assassin, Marik Ishtar.” Shadi said, standing before the tan yami, who raised his eyes. “You now stand to be judged, by your hikari, to remain by his side, or to be taken from him. Have you any words before judgment is passed?”
“Only that I love him. No matter what he may choose for me.” Marik said. The Scales tipped. Marik spoke the truth.
“May judgment fall upon you. Malik Ishtar.” Malik straightened, and stared Shadi in the eyes. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?”
“Uh, can I ask a question first?”
“Speak.”
“Is there a reason you’re repeating yourself and sounding like you’re performing a wedding ceremony?” Yugi and Ryou stared at Malik, Yami blinked, and Marik groaned. “Okay, okay, sorry.” Malik muttered. “I choose to keep him.”
“So be it.” Shadi said, eyeing Malik, slightly annoyed. Marik sighed in relief, when Shadi moved away. Malik and Yugi looked at Ryou, and Marik and Yami snuck glances at the trembling Bakura.
“Tomb Robber Bakura.” Shadi snarled the name. Bakura flinched. “You now stand to be judged, by your hikari, to remain by his side, or to be taken from him. Have you any words before judgment is passed?” Ryou looked down at Bakura, a hopeful expression on his face. Bakura seemed to be huddling lower, as if trying to sink into the ground. Yami and Marik felt twinges of pity for the albino darkness.
“…” Bakura mumbled.
“Speak up!” Shadi snapped.
“No.” Bakura whispered. “I have nothing to say. Just get on with it all ready.” Ryou’s face fell, and his eyes closed.
“Very well. May judgment fall upon you. Ryou Bakura.” Ryou swallowed, and opened his eyes, but kept his gaze on Bakura, refusing to look up at the keeper of the Ahnk and Scales. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?” Ryou saw Bakura’s head dip lower, and shoulders sag in defeat. Ryou tried to speak. Tried to tell Shadi to take Bakura away. But he couldn’t get it out. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “What is your choice?!” Shadi repeated. The sun was completely dark now.
“I, I, I don’t know…” Ryou managed to gasp. He heard Bakura suck in his breath.
“Make your choice.” Shadi commanded.
“I don’t know…” Ryou whimpered, brokenly.
“Wait!” Bakura gasped, suddenly. “Please. I, I would speak. I do have something to say.”
“You have had your chance.” Shadi snapped.
“Please.” Ryou said. “Please let him.” Shadi eyed Ryou, then Bakura.
“Very well. But remember that the Scales will hear your words. And remember that time grows short.” A small sliver of the sun had reappeared. Bakura started to turn to face Ryou. “You have not been given permission to move!” Shadi snapped. Bakura jumped, and huddled on his knees again, shaking more violently than before.
“Ryou. I, I’m sorry. About everything. I don’t know how to tell you just how sorry I am. Words cannot express it. Nor can they express how I feel.” Bakura paused, and gulped. Yami and Marik stared, as a tear escaped Bakura’s eye, and ran down his face. “I was afraid, Ryou. I was afraid to tell you how I feel. And banish me if you will, but I cannot go without telling you this. I, I love you. I love you Ryou. I love you with every thing that I have. My heart, my soul, my mind, my body…. Ra, I’ve hurt you for so long. I don’t know why I did, I still don’t. but I wish you never got the Ring. You never deserved all I’ve put you through. And I’m so sorry. I would fix it if I could, but I can’t. I can’t change the past, no matter how much I wish I could. Now, all I ask is for your forgiveness. Banish me if you will, but at least, try to forgive me for all I’ve done. You’re my other half. The half of me that I love. I hate myself for what I did to you. I’m sorry, I, I….” His voice trailed off. “I love you.” He whispered. “I love you so much, it hurts!”
“Are you quite finished?” Shadi asked in a steely voice. Bakura swallowed, and nodded. Shadi raised the Scales, and all eyes but Bakura’s fixed upon them. They watched Bakura’s words weighed with his soul. The scale tipped back and forth. They finally stopped. Ryou swallowed.
“Your words have been judged against your soul. They tip even. You speak the truth.” Ryou stared down at Bakura.
“Ryou Bakura.” Shadi said. “He is your Yami to hold to you, or banish forever. What is your choice?” Ryou swallowed, and stared at his yami. Malik, Yugi, Yami, Marik and Bakura hold their breathes.
“Bakura….” Ryou said, softly, tears streaming down his face. “I love you too.” He fell to his knees, and wrapped his arms around his yami. “I forgive you. I love you.” He whispered. Bakura remained still, waiting for Ryou to tell Shadi his choice. Ryou looked up at the Keeper of the Ahnk and Scales. “Go. And leave him. I love him. I’m keeping him.” Shadi nodded.
“So be it.” He said, and vanished into the mist. The mist evaporated, and the sun was freed from the grips of the shadows that had engulfed it. Yugi and Malik fell to their knees next to their yamis, and embraced them. But Bakura still didn’t move. Marik and Yami clothed themselves with their minds, and they all turned to Ryou who was shaking Bakura’s shoulders, trying to get him to respond.
“Ryou.” Bakura said, softly. “Why? Why did you spare me. I thought you would….”
“I was going to.” Ryou said. “But I never knew that you…..” Ryou shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared.” Bakura answered, truthfully. Ryou smiled slightly, and put his hands on Bakura’s face, lifting it up to face him. Bakura studied Ryou’s eyes. Ryou smiled, and closed his eyes, then pressed his lips to Bakura’s.
/I love you Bakura./
//I love you too, Ryou. Thank you.//
/For what?/
//For the second chance.//
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!!
Hello all! First off, I want to apologize for the lack of updates with ‘Burning Sea’ and this week’s missing chapter of ‘Ahmose Inarus’. It’s that time of the semester, folks, final exams, research papers, and all that shit. I’m busy as hell and the next chapter of BS has yet to be written and AI is not quite complete. Plus, I have noticed that not many have been reading ‘Ahmose Inarus’. That’s not a problem for me, I knew it would not attract many readers considering that it is focused on an original character, and those are not exactly popular in fanfics. I know… I tend to avoid fics with too many OC’s or too much focus on an OC. There. I admit it. I’m a hypocrite. ^_^()
However, I did get the opinion of many of my readers, and many said they wanted to see the fic ‘Ahmose Inarus’. That is why I posted it. However, I hope to post the sequel to ‘Koibito Yami’ in the undefined future, called ‘Millennium Balance’. I think it is only fair to warn you that you may be a bit lost in that fic unless you read the three prequels; ‘Koibito Yami’, ‘Ahmose Inarus’ and the sequel to AI, ‘Mikado Maho.’ Just letting you know and giving you a heads up. And for those of you who ARE reading AI and reviewing, (though there IS a serious lack of reviews… actually I’ve notied a recent decline in reviews in general)glad you’re enjoying it.
Anyway, look for updates on Ahmose Inarus and Burning Sea after Christmas break. Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll have anything to post up on those between now and when I leave the campus and go home where I will have no internet access… for a month. So until then, read and enjoy what I’ve already got up, and REVIEW DAMMIT!!! Especially this one! What, just because there's no sex I get no reiews?!?! ;_; THE AUTHOR NEEDS REVIEWS!!! FEED ME! FEEEEED MEEEE!!!!
Yyyyeah…. >.>
Merry Christmas!!!! ^_^